Jesus and Empire: The Kingdom of God and the New World Disorder

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 144 pages
• Published by: Augsburg Fortress Publishers November 2002
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 080063490X
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0800634902
• Book Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Weighs: 9.6 ounces

Product Description
Building on his earlier studies of Jesus, Galilee, and the social upheavals in Roman Palestine, Horsley focuses his attention on how Jesus’ proclamation of the kingdom of God relates to Roman and Herodian power politics. In addition he looks at how modern ideologies relate to Jesus’ proclamation.

Publisher Description
A major advance in Jesus studies and a critique of oppression.

Reader Reviews
In the first 128 pages of this disturbing little book, Professor Horsley builds a credible case for understanding Jesus and the proto-Christian movement as a communal renewal of families and traditional villages in opposition to the Roman Empire and its client local rulers. Professor Horsley argues, successfully, that Jesus can only be understood in his original context. He further argues that Jesus can be best interpreted in corporate, rather than individual, terms. None of this is new. In the last twenty pages of this book, however, Professor Horsley draws disquieting social, economic, political, military and religious parallels between imperial Rome and an imperial United States of America. With irksome clarity and courage, he points out that ancient Palestinians resisted Western imperialism by every means possible, including terrorism, and that some of their Middle Eastern descendents appear to be doing nothing more than following that example. After September 11, 2001, this is not the book to read if you wish to be comforted, or rest cozily in your Western preconceptions. However, if you wish to be challenged intellectually and spiritually, this is a good book to read. If you wish to be disturbed and forced to think, read this book.